We're back home (with our piles of laundry and exhaustion). We had a great week and it flew by! Crazy how that happens.
We attended the party on Thursday (10/19) and we had a great time, even though there were some hiccups along the way. We really didn't follow the original plan at all.
Here's what the plan was:
2:30 Leave Boardwalk (is this the right amount of time?)
3:15 arrive MK
4:10-4:20 FP Meet Tinker Bell 4:10-5:10
4:25-4:45 Liberty Square Riverboat
4:50 - 5:05 Country Bear Jamboree
5:10 - 5:15 FP Magic Carpets of Aladdin 5:10-6:10
5:20 - 5:35 Enchanted Tiki Room
5:40 - 6:20 DINNER Pinocchio Village Haus
6:30 - 7:00 line up for Cruella
7:00 - 7:15 meet Cruella
7:20 - 7:40 Big Thunder Mountain RR
7:45 - 8:05 Haunted Mansion
8:10 - 8:40 Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
8:45 - 9:45 Cadaver Dan's, trick or treat, maybe a magic shot
9:45 - 10:15 find a spot for HalloWishes
10:15 - 10:30 HalloWishes
10:30 - 10:45 find a spot for Hocus Pocus
10:45 - 11:05 Hocus Pocus Villains Spectacular
11:05 - 11:15 find a spot for Boo to You
11:15 - 11:30 Boo to You Parade
So the first hiccup was that I was having a major hair malfunction. I just couldn't get the Vidia hair working properly. I looked like I was trying for some awful 80's bangs. Then DH was questioning when we actually needed to leave because he wanted more nap time and we made it back from Disney Springs late because I couldn't get DD out of World of Disney. The struggle is real, people.
BUT! It all worked out okay. We walked up to the bus stop right as a bus was arriving around 3:40 and got to the Magic Kingdom about 15 minutes later so we were pretty much walking in the gate at 4 PM. The lines weren't too bad and we got our party wristbands right there. After that, we went over the firehouse and got our Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom cards. Then we met Tink and that was a lot of fun (except for the part where she called my DH Clank, even though he was Bobble). After that, I already knew were were scrapping the Riverboat, so instead, we just went directly to Country Bears since we had never done that. Yeaaaaaah. I sort of hate country music so this wasn't my bag, but I'm always up for experiencing something at least once. After that, we used our FP for Pirates of the Caribbean. I know, it says Magic Carpets, but in the intervening time since I wrote that, DD (age 9) decided that all those types of rides (Dumbo, etc.) are "boring" (insert child rolling eyes here) and so we had one for Pirates instead. After that, we didn't do the Tiki Room because we had some free time (what's that?!?!) the day before and had already done it. So instead, we just went directly to dinner, getting that out of the way.
After dinner (done by 6 PM - mobile ordering FOR THE WIN!) we had some free time so we played some Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom. This was our first time to play the game and DD really liked it. It reminded me of the Midship Detective Agency on the cruise ships (we are primarily cruisers, honestly).
At 6:30 we went to line up for Cruella. She came out a little after 7 (we heard the Ghost Host and then she came out a few minutes later). We were probably the fifth or sixth group back in line and we were done by 7:15. At that point, we headed back towards BTMRR and noted that HM was closed and waits at 7DMT were getting really high (like, an hour). Upon passing the HM, I saw Madam Carlotta walking toward the mansion so I called my family back and we followed her where we enjoyed some of her first set (around 7:20).
Also, on the way to BTMRR we saw the grave diggers and stopped to get photos with them. I loved them but DD was creeped out.
They were finishing their set and we were the last family to meet them. The CM had noted that they would be back at 8. (This was probably around 7:30 at this point.)
Noting that HM was still down, we rode BTMRR twice. It was about 10-15 minutes of wait both times. Then we made our way back over to where Cadaver Dans was performing and enjoyed their set a little bit (a little after 8 PM). HM was still down, 7DMT had over an hour wait still. Pirates was also down. DD started whining that she was tired and wasn't sure she was going to make it. I freaked out and decided we needed to go to the Hocus Pocus show at 8:35 and the first parade. I wasn't thrilled, but I didn't want a meltdown or to be carrying a 50 pound child while both of us were in costumes back to the bus stop. So we got a spot for Hocus Pocus around 8:20. It wasn't ideal in terms of viewing location, but it was fine. We all really enjoyed the show.
Then we made our way through the hub (wall to wall people) and down Main St. (again wall to wall) and found a fairly open spot right in front of talking Mickey/Tink building (I can't remember the name of that building - cruiser, remember?) to watch the parade. It was actually a pretty good spot. I wanted to take DD to meet talking Mickey, but first the headless horseman came by and then soon after we could hear the party patrol and then it was pretty much time for the parade so that never ended up working out. I think he had a posted 10 minute wait at that time. (Meanwhile, HM was still down. Pirates was back up, for those of you keeping score at home.) The parade was mostly great. I would have preferred it to be darker? They really brought the lights up. It seemed bright. I loved the Haunted Mansion and Villains sections (I'm all about those things).
After the parade, we made our way back up Main street (wall to wall people) and found a spot for Hallowishes somewhere near Casey's. It on the sidewalk on Main Street near where the sidewalk T's where you would take the sidewalk to go to the bathrooms between Casey's and Crystal Palace. Speaking of bathroom, DD declared we had to go. I took her and asked DH to hold down the fort. I came back and people were in our spot. YOU HAD ONE JOB DH. Apparently he was busy catching Pokemon or something. Anyhoo, we got that sorted out and reshuffled ourselves a bit and it worked out fine.
The fireworks were great, but there were two things that bugged. I didn't like the pop sounding versions of some of the songs. I guess I like the classic versions. Otherwise, I loved the timing and projections and the fireworks were great. Now, Happily Ever After is a really tough act to follow and we had just seen that the night before. So while I loved them, I didn't love them as much as HEA. Maybe some updates are in order.
After the HP show, the parade, and fireworks, DD had gotten a second wind (the lollipop from the party patrol probably helped) and said she was ready to go some more. Great. Glad I changed everything to go to the early HP show and parade. All well. So we went to see what was up with Haunted Mansion and Mine Train. HM was still down. We went over to Mine Train which was posting a 45 minute wait. Sigh. We got in line and it was probably around 30 min. DD wanted to right again, but I suggested some trick or treating. We stopped at Pinocchio and Philharmagic. I checked HM again. It was back up. Hooray! So we went over and rode that and then did the trick or treat stop near the riverboat. After that, it was close to 11:30 and DD wanted one more ride on 7DMT so we went over there and did that. It was closer to 20 minutes that time. A little before midnight we went and did the magic shot on Main street with the ballroom dancers, which is the main one I had wanted. By this time of the night, my hair was a mess and DD had taken off her hat, but it was okay.
Then we made it to our bus stop and ended up back at the Boardwalk close to 1 AM. Whew!
Thanks to everyone for answering questions and helping with planning. I couldn't have done it without you! Even though it didn't go according to plan, we still had a lot of fun and I think it all worked out really well.
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really need an emoji sewing!
@Cluelyss 
and it was a pleasure meeting you! 
